As of July 22, 2020, there are 641 people sick in 11 states in the Fresh Express bagged salad cyclospora outbreak. That’s an increase of 132 more patients since the last update on July 9, 2020. Thirty-seven people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. There is also an outbreak in Canada that has sickened people in three provinces that is also linked to Fresh Express salad products.
The case count by state is: Georgia (1), Iowa (195), Illinois (198), Kansas (5), Minnesota (73), Missouri (57), Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13), andWisconsin (36). The illness onset date range is from May 11, 2020 to July 5, 2020.
The outbreak is potentially linked to Fresh Express bagged salad products that contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. It was sold under the Fresh Express brand name and also under retail store brands at ALDI, Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, ShopRight, and Walmart stores.
All of those products were recalled at various times since May 2020, but Fresh Express issued a blanket recall on June 27, 2020. The recalled bagged salads have the product code Z178B or a lower number. The “best by” dates on these recalled bagged salads run through July 14, 2020.
The recalled bagged salad products displaying the product code Z178 or lower were sold in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia at retail stores.
You can contact food safety attorney Fred Pritzker for help by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
Noted food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker said, “Cyclospora outbreaks linked to produce have sickened hundreds and thousands of Americans every year for the past few years, so this outbreak is no surprise. Growers, processors, and retailers have to do a better job making sure that the products they produce are safe to eat.”
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis, the illness caused by this microscopic parasite, usually begin about a week after ingesting the oocyst. Symptoms include loss of appetite and weight loss, stomach cramps and pain, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, fever, fatigue, and frequent, explosive, watery diarrhea that may alternate with bouts of constipation.
Without treatment, this illness can last for weeks or months and may recur without warning. The treatment is sulfa based, which means that anyone who is allergic to sulfa may not receive adequate treatment. Some people become so ill through dehydration that they need to be hospitalized. If you have been experiencing these symptoms, see your doctor and ask for a cyclospora test. You may be part of this Fresh Express bagged salad cyclospora outbreak.
If you or a loved one have been sickened with a cyclospora infection after eating recalled Fresh Express bagged salads, please contact our experienced attorneys for help at 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
